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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 30, 2014 | 6 Let's not repeat a tragedy this summer As we head into the summer of 2014, it's a good time to get an early jump on hot weather safety. Local of cials aren't wasting any time on that note -- not after a few summers in which residents were aghast to learn of children and pets being left in hot vehicles. The deadly mix resulted in tragic consequences last year in Halton when a young Milton boy lost his life and another Oakville child was found in a perilous position. This year, the Halton Children's Aid Society (CAS) is out early in issuing warning and safety tips this season. The CAS is reminding people the temperature inside a parked vehicle can climb to more than 50 C in 10-20 minutes on a typical Canadian summer day. Opening windows doesn't make it cooler and heat stroke sets in at a full 10 degrees cooler than that -- all while, children and babies are three to ve times more heat sensitive than adults. It can be a fatal mix. Climbing temperatures in a car cause a child to suffer from heat stress, dehydration, shock and even death. Never leave a precious little one alone in a car, don't use a vehicle as a babysitter, don't let children play in the car and, if a youngster is catching a ride somewhere with someone else, make sure they arrive OK. If you see a child or youth unattended in a car, call 9-1-1. (For more information, visit www.HaltonCAS. ca.) And it's not always about little ones. There have been cases of frail, elderly or disabled people being left alone in blistering hot vehicles. That's the human half of the sad tale. Pets are another concern. Two summers ago, Oakville saw a rash of reports about pets being left in cars. Even outside of vehicles, St. John Ambulance offers tips on recognizing heat stroke in our best friends. Unlike humans, cats and dogs don't regulate their temperature through their skin. Instead, they pant or sweat through their paws. This less effective way of managing body temperature means that cats and dogs are more susceptible to suffering from heat stroke -- and more likely to die from it. Signs and symptoms of heat stroke in pets include rapid, noisy panting, bright red mucous membranes, thick saliva, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargic behaviour and loss of consciousness. If you suspect heat stroke, move the animal to a cool spot and offer water and consult with your veterinarian. In severe instances, move the pet to a cool area and run cool, but not icy, water over the pet's body and get them to a vet. Heat stroke in pets can lead to permanent organ damage or death. Pet owners are warned to never leave an animal alone in a car on warm days or outside without access to shade and water. Make sure our best friends have plenty of fresh drinking water and check on them frequently. They should avoid excessive exercise and excitement in hot weather. For more information about rst aid for pets and people, visit www.sja.ca/on. Editorial B Y T H E B "Connected to your Community" O O K 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 52 | Number 65 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Oakville Literacy volunteers were at Whole Foods on Cornwall Road recently collecting used books and raising awareness for their upcoming Used Books Sale -- June 5-8 at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre. From left, Ann Bowman, volunteer president of the Oakville Literacy Council, Ken Auden, volunteer vicepresident of the Oakville Literacy Council, France Fournier, marketing and community relations at Whole Foods and Joanne MacNair, volunteer chair of the Used Book Sale. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Communities are home to everyone In our world it appears that the line between the `haves' and the `have nots' is becoming much more de ned. I would like to remind the `haves' that a lot of their services and products are made and served by the `have nots.' If you price the `have nots' out of a community, there will be no one to change your tires, serve you coffee, stock the shelves, produce your products or many other things that you nd essential. The `have nots' are not paid enough to drive in from other cities in order to ful ll the `haves' needs. The `haves' have to remember that the `have nots' are people too, families with children striving to do their best. The difference is the `haves' do not have Letter to the Editor Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association to struggle to make it from paycheque to paycheque. They do not have to worry about where the food is coming from for their children as they watch the food prices rise ridiculously. The `haves' do not give the `have nots' raises to match the rise in food and shelter costs. The `have nots' deserve to be able to live in a decent place with enough food to ll their bellies. They work hard, too, sometimes harder than the `haves.' And one day when the `haves' wake up and leave their house and nd an empty city, where they cannot get a coffee, there is no one at the cashiers, the road is full of potholes... they will only have themselves to blame. Michelle Gajdacs, Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.